Study On The C-E Translation Of Abstracts In Automation Of Electric Power Systems Based On Thematic Structure And Thematic Progression Theory

This paper selects abstracts from the journal of Automation of Electric Power Systems published from 2015 to 2019.The top 50 paper abstracts with the highest citations and their translation are selected as the objects of study.Here are the major findings.First,the thematic structure of clauses could be clearly divided according to Halliday’s introduction of experiential Themes.Secondly,from the perspective of experiential thematic structure,the study reveals that Chinese s apply participants as experiential Themes the most,with circumstantial elements the second and process the third.Among the translation,participants are mostly used as ETs with circumstantial elements next to it,but process seldom functions as ET.Although both texts frequently apply participants as ETs,Chinese prefers thematic subjects while English favors recipient subjects.As for process,it is often used as ETs in Chinese but seldom presents in English.Third,in terms of TP patterns,it is found that text could be progressed by one or multiple TP patterns.Chinese abstracts are often progressed by one TP pattern while the translation often exhibits multiple TP patterns.Generally speaking,Chinese abstracts use simple line TP the most and TP with derived T’s the second.English abstracts apply TP with derived T’s the most and simple linear TP the second.TP with a continuous theme and the exposition of a split Rheme are comparatively less applied in both of them.Fourth,not only does Theme help progress the text,Rheme also shares the same role,especially in Chinese abstracts.This paper supplements TP patterns with Rhematic Progression patterns,that is,RP patterns.They include RP pattern with partially same Rheme and RP pattern with derived Rhemes.Based on the above,this paper suggests that authors consciously follow different TP patterns by maintaining or changing the original thematic structures in the translation process.Some translation techniques are provided as well.